Toast Cafe-Davidson, NC and Charlotte, NC

Grimy Grub....

Hooray for a new breakfast spot in the Charlotte metro area!  Well it isn't new to Davidson and Huntersville but they recently opened a location on Park Road!  I have been to this place twice (the Davidson location) and wow--SCRUMPTIOUS!  I have only had breakfast items but they have a great menu for lunch and dinner as well.  They serve breakfast daily until 3pm so that is a huge bonus.  They only serve dinner from 5pm-9pm, Wed-Sunday. 

I can only speak about the breakfast at Toast, which happens to be my favorite meal of the day.  I have been known to go to bed thinking about what I will get to eat for breakfast in the morning.  Sad, I know.

Their breakfast menu ranges from traditional items like egg sandwiches, omelets, french toast, pancakes, etc.  I highly recommend any of those items because they are excellent.  Their hash browns are fresh cut potatoes with a very tasty seasoning.  They are wonderful!  But, what I would really check out would have to be their "specials."  They had crab benedict, stuffed french toast, unique omelet blends, etc.  My husband tried the nutella and strawberry stuffed french toast.  Of course I "encouraged" him to order this because I had my eye on the pumpkin spice pancakes but desperately wanted to try that french toast!  Let me just say, we made the right choices!  The stuffed french toast was absolutely heavenly.  It tasted like a chocolate covered strawberry.  It is hard to explain but the bread balanced the "sweet" so it was a perfect combination of flavors.  You could always order a side of hash browns if you need something salty to complete the meal! 

My pumpkin pancakes were the perfect fall treat!  They were super fluffy and the pumpkin flavor was very prominent!  I don't know about you but I have had pumpkin pancakes that didn't taste like pumpkin at all...it just tasted like cinnamon or nutmeg or allspice.  These were light and flavorful.  There were three of them, which was the perfect amount.  They weren't huge so I didn't feel lethargic, bloated and tired after this breakfast.

They mix things up so the menu is always changing.  I am thrilled that  they opened a location in Dilworth but taking a ride up to Davidson is a nice change of scenery as well!  Either way, check them out!  You will NOT be disappointed!  http://toastcafeonline.com/davidson/index.html

Sweet Cakes Bakery-Cornelius, NC

I have been to this bakery twice now and I had the same experience both times...TERRIBLE customer service.  A cupcake bakery is a happy place!  Why do they seem so disturbed when I come in?  I'm a customer and I am definitely not just window shopping...I am there to make a purchase!  You would think for a small, locally owned bakery that would make a difference! 

That being said, the cupcakes were good.  They weren't amazing and they weren't horrible.  And no, I don't just have a bad taste in my mouth due to the customer service.  I can look past anything if the cupcake is on point.  They had some yummy flavors including almond joy, pumpkin spice, peanut butter truffle, cookies and cream, lemon drop, etc.  I didn't see a ton of real "creative" concoctions but they presented well and they had good classic flavors. 

I tried the chocolate strawberry flavor and the peanut butter truffle.  I was hoping the chocolate strawberry would be similar to the flavor of a chocolate covered strawberry.  Polka dot bake shop in Charlotte has this flavor from time to time and it is heavenly!  This was more like they had chocolate cupcakes left over and strawberry icing left over from their strawberry cupcake so they just threw them together.  There was also no sign in front of this blend so it further proves my point that it was a last minute daily flavor.  I don't fault them for that but I am the sucker that purchased the mysterious, no-name cupcake and expected it to be amazing.  The chocolate cupcake was good--pretty standard.  It was light, airy and more chewy (if I may use that word) than I prefer but still good flavor.  The strawberry buttercream had very good flavor so truly the combination of chocolate and strawberry never disappoints..but I just wasn't overly excited by this cupcake.  Not bad though.  Good use of leftover materials...much better than it going to waste!

The peanut butter truffle tasted exactly like a truffle.  Same thing with the chocolate cupcake...light, airy and chewy.  The peanut butter buttercream was very sweet and had a strong peanut butter flavor, which I liked.  It was very rich.  The icing on both cupcakes was soft and more creamy than gritty.  It wasn't crunchy.  The consistency was good.  I also like the way the icing is set on the cupcake....check out the pic here http://www.sweetcakesbakery.com/

Overall, decent place, predictable and can certainly satisfy your sweet cravings.

They definitely need to step up their customer service and make the whole experience more enjoyable.  I wouldn't go out of my way for this place but if stuck in a bind I would go again.

Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt--Matthews, NC

Sweet Complete...

Just as quickly as the cupcake craze has taken off, so has the frozen yogurt industry!  I mean, what ever happened to good old TCBY?  I know they are still hanging on by a thread but good grief!  They certainly have major competition!  Now there is Yoforia, Tasty-yo, Pinkberry, etc. 

I support the overall idea and I love the places that allow you to put on your own toppings.  It is much more comfortable to just load up your own cup as opposed to saying to the employee "can you add a few more chunks of chocolate and would you mind saturating my yogurt with the hot fudge?  Great, thank you."

Sweet Frog is one of those places that allows you to "load your own" and I must say, the toppings always look fresh and plentiful!  But let's talk about the yogurt first...

They may not have as many flavors as Yoforia but what they do offer is always VERY good.  It is super creamy and the flavors individually make a statement!  I don't know if anyone else has experienced this but when I put three or so flavors in my cup, they usually all start to blend together.  It just all tasted like vanilla or sugar ice.  But these flavors are so distinct and sooo full of flavor!  They have their "standard" flavors that are all good--Cookies and Cream, Strawberry banana, Cake Batter, Vanilla, Peanut Butter, etc.  But, their seasonal flavors this year have been FABULOUS!  I tried their pumpkin and their apple pie flavors and they were divine.  It literally tasted like pie!  You can pick your size and mix as many flavors as you wish or they give you the "swirl" option on each machine.  The only thing that wigs me out about the froyo spots is where it says "live cultures."  I know that is supposed to be a good thing but for some reason it doesn't exactly help my appetite when I read that before loading up.  That's just me though!  I also like the fact that this place has a good old fashioned vanilla.  It isn't tart, greek, sour or whatever else...just old school McDonald's cone vanilla style!

Next stop--the toppings!  They are great--all types of candy (chocolaty or sugary), wafers, coconut, chocolate chips, fruit, nuts, etc.  Then they have amazing sauces--Marshmallow cream, caramel, hot fudge, peanut butter (my favorite), honey, etc.  So good!  You have all you need to make a perfect treat.  You can make it as healthy or as unhealthy as you prefer.

Lastly, I will definitely continue to support this company (franchise company) because the "frog" in Sweet Frog stands for "Fully Rely on God."  It is a privilege to support other believers in their endeavours!  Not to mention they are soaring above the rest in my opinion.  Give them a try!

See if there is one near you!

http://sweetfrogyogurt.com/

Devon Seafood - Chicago, IL

The Finer Things in Life...

Have you ever been asked the question "If you could have one final meal, what would it be"?  Some might go for a juicy filet prepared medium rare with an herbed garlic butter.  Others might go the sweet route and indulge in the ultimate chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge.  For me, the answer is easy - CRAB LEGS!  I remember the first time I tasted crab legs.  I was about six and my family was dining at Red Lobster (this was back in the 80's when RL was actually known for good seafood).  My dad pulled out a piece of that sweet bright colored meat and dipped it in the warm golden butter.  The taste was like nothing I had ever experienced.  It was sweet, but somehow savory.  It had a rich taste that just melted in your mouth.  It was an explosion of flavor that to this day I find myself stumbling to explain because I get so overwhelmed with utter joy. 
With my extreme passion for crab, it was no surprise that my husband "surprised" me with reservations for our three year anniversary at one of my favorite seafood restaurants in the city, Devon.  Devon Seafood has a trendy ambiance and modern feel.  The upstairs is welcoming with a contemporary style bar and tables for light dining, however, downstairs is where the real magic happens.  The white linen table cloth surrounded by a dim glow from the candles provides the perfect setting for pure indulgence. 

Upon arriving at our table we were immediately greeted with warm biscuits and honey butter.  Erase everything in your mind that you know about a biscuit.  These are one of a kind and don't taste like any other biscuit I have ever had.  The outside is crisp and has a pastry like flavor, but inside the biscuit is soft, fluffy and warm.  Broken in half and spread with honey butter, it's the perfect start to get my taste buds going.  We passed on salads and went straight for the lobster bisque.  Growing up on the east coast, lobster bisque was an easy luxury to find.  Here in the midwest however, coming across good (and I mean REALLY GOOD) lobster bisque is about as common as finding a celebrity with morals.  I have to hand it to Devon, they have the texture and the flavor down to an art.  While I prefer to have a lump of lobster in each bite, the lobster bisque did not leave me longing for anything.  It was creamy and velvety in texture.  The lobster was UBER tender and went down easily with each bite. It was heaven.

Now, onto the main event.  For the main course I ordered crab legs (obviously) with grilled artichokes and garlic mashed potatoes.  There is something about watching those bright colored shells piled high on a plate coming towards your table.  My heart literally starts pounding at the very thought of it.  The crab legs are served pre-cracked, but not so much that you don't have to put in a little work to get the meat out.  And for me, part of the indulgence is having the satisfaction of cracking the remaining shell and pulling out the perfect piece of meat.  I like to get my hands a little dirty and dig in.  The crab was perfectly tender and steaming hot.  The meat in the legs, as well as the claw, had the rich savory flavor I long for.  The butter had been skimmed of the milk fats and provided the most satisfying golden dunking pleasure. It was an absolute melt in your mouth experience.

The side items definitely deserve an honorable mention.  It's hard for a side item to stand up against crab legs.  Let's face it, it's like trying to compare Zac Galifianakis to Bradley Cooper.  While Zac is incredibly funny, it's just unfair to put him in the same category as Bradley Cooper.  The garlic mashed potatoes were creamy and whipped into perfection with an abundance of garlic flavor.  The artichokes were fresh and served along side a lemon garlic aioli that completed the smoky flavor of the grill.  Each petal provided perfectly soft meat that was flavored with just a bit of garlic, salt and pepper.  The sides win the award for best supporting role, but nothing is better than the leading character.

Devon did not disappoint in the least.  It exceeded my crab expectations on all fronts. If you are as passionate about crab as I am, you must experience the pleasures of dining at Devon for yourself.
Happy Cracking!!
http://www.devonseafood.com/

LOCO LIME-CHARLOTTE, NC (plaza midwood neighborhood)

GRIMY GRUB....

First, let me just say that I love the Plaza Midwood area.  The "main" stretch on Central avenue is full of trendy restaurants, bakeries and boutiques.  Ok, maybe I shouldn't say "full" but there are definitely some great spots.  It has an overall cool vibe and most of the places are locally owned.  Now, don't get me wrong, you may have to lock your doors and speed through part of Central avenue before you arrive safely at Loco Lime but it's worth risking your life. ;)

So, Loco Lime is somewhat of a hidden gem but as you pull in and park in the back you can immediately see that this is clearly a local hot spot.  The outside patio was packed and you have to walk through the bar to get to the main restaurant.  The looks are a bit deceiving because the dining area is pretty large!  The dim lights, friendly hostess and scent of fresh tortillas make you feel right at home from the moment you walk in!  Most of the waiters/waitresses have a pretty trendy look--piercings, tattoos, etc so it is unique in that regard.  I guess it isn't everyday that you see a trendy mexican joint.  Most of the time they are well lit with bright colors splashed everywhere, some type of spanish music echos in the background and Jose is typically the server.  Not here though!

 Mexican food might be one of my favorite types of food.  We eat Mexican food about once a week.  I could literally drink salsa by the glass and I would have no problem taking a guacamole bath while dipping chips in the tub.  I am picky about both of these staple mexican items.  I love FRESH salsa and FRESH guacamole.  Onions and Cilantro must be very present in both items and I don't want them too spicy but just the perfect kick.  I have been known to judge a restaurant based strictly on their salsa so this is extremely important to me!

Loco Lime is more of a "mexican inspired" restaurant so you have quite a bit of the traditional plates along with some unique combinations.  To start, the salsa was pretty good.  Oddly enough it was a weird combination between fresh and canned salsa.  It is almost as if they added some fresh cilantro and a few fresh onions to some canned salsa.  It wasn't too hot but it did have a nice flavor.  It wasn't my favorite salsa but we still managed to burn through 3 bowls.  The chips were pretty standard.

I ordered the vegetable burrito...it was huge!  It was filled with rice, cheese, black beans, corn, sweet plantains, and zucchini.  You could choose your sauce (green-super spicy, white queso or red-spicy).  I chose the red sauce which was very tasty and the combination of flavors really worked.  There was the sweet, spicy and salty mix.  It was quite good.  It came with guacamole, sour cream and some kind of coleslaw but none of them are worth mentioning.  They were hardly even there to be honest--very small portions of each and the guacamole had no flavor. 

My husband ordered three beef tacos and he said they were great.  The beef was finely chopped and was smothered in their taco sauce.  The tacos were topped with cilantro and they were soft shell, which is very authentic.  It was served with rice and beans.  The beans were fluffy and almost seemed fresh (doubtful) in comparison to other Mexican restaurants.  Normally the beans are soupy and seem to inch off the plate little by little...kinda like that lump of green stuff that the mom serves to her family in the movie "Better Off Dead."  I am not saying they taste bad but you know they are super lardy and pumped with sodium.  Pukity.  But, that wasn't the case at Loco Lime.  The beans were not greasy nor did they seem to be as salty.  The rice on the other hand was pretty dry but I don't expect much when it comes to rice in this type of restaurant.

Everything was pretty good for the most part.  I tried to ignore the fact that the food came out in literally 25 seconds.  The food usually comes out quick at Mexican restaurants but this was record- breaking!  I even ordered my burrito without mushrooms so I know they didn't just go heat up a pre-made dish but...wow.  Their website says " All of our food is made-to-order using the freshest ingredients and highest quality to please everyone’s taste."  So, I'm going to trust them!

This was my second time dining with Loco Lime and I would go back.  I'd like to try a few other items on their menu and I need to give their table side guacamole a chance.  I have never had to wait, which is always a good thing and the service has been great both times.  They are also very reasonably priced.  It isn't the easiest part of town to travel to, but it is fun to try out this area in Charlotte and of course to support this locally owned hot spot!

Menu can be found here:  http://locolimecharlotte.com/

Polka Dot Bake Shop-Charlotte, NC

Sweet Complete!!!!...

Anything sweet related I put in the category of "sweet complete" because for me, personally, I love to have something sweet to complete every meal.  However, let's face it, cupcakes are good at any point during the day! 

I frequent Polka Dot bake shop.  It isn't in the most convenient location (off of Park road) for me but the trip is always well worth the travel.  Fortunately, I have meetings in that area once a month for work so I am at least guaranteed to make it there once a month!

There is just something clean and fresh about this bakery.  I just feel happy as soon as I walk in.  The cupcakes are always displayed so beautifully and they have great customer service.  You are always guaranteed to be greeted by a friendly employee and very often one of the owners.  I love the fact that this is a local bakery, not a chain.  The two women that own polka dot were onto the "cupcake craze" right before it hit.  They have been in business for about 5 years.  I also love the fact that they have a daily menu with different cupcakes listed under each day.  They have their "staple" cupcakes but then a few extra fun flavors and one "special of the day."  And, yes, I DO check the menu weekly so I can see what fun flavors they are highlighting that week.  They usually have a specific theme.  For example, next week is "fun fall flavors" and they have flavors like pumpkin turtle, gingerbread, maple walnut, etc.  But trust me, even their regular menu items are worth the trip....Key lime pie, peanut butter, honey almond, tuxedo, chocolate raspberry, etc.  I have tried just about all of them but too bad I didn't have a blog at that time.  Now, I have to start from scratch...I have to bite into each one again so I can give a very up-to-date, accurate account of the yummyness going on in my mouth.  It would only be fair and ethical as a journalist...hahaha  :)

So, today they had a coconut cream pie flavor and I am not a fan of coconut so I steered clear...but I didn't walk away empty-handed.  I picked up two of their weekly flavors (every Friday)--Salted Caramel and Peanut Butter.



I really wish I could put into words the amazing flavor of these cupcakes but I just won't do it justice.  I wanted to wait until I got home to take my first bite so I could really enjoy it in peace but I only made it to the first stop light and I was digging around in my bag.

The salted caramel cupcake is described as being a vanilla bean cupcake with a salted carmel buttercream, a caramel center and topped with cashews.  I like to simply describe it as SCRUMPTIOUS!!  Their vanilla bean cupcake is amazing just ALONE.  We found out that they actually use fresh vanilla beans as one of their ingredients.  They use pure ingredients (no transfat) and they bake them fresh daily.  Trust me, you can tell!  The buttercream on this particular icing is very smooth and creamy but a bit heavy.  It is a looser frosting so it almost feels as if it is going to sink through the cupcake.  This icing is very sweet and the caramel flavor is not overbearing.  I guess the "salt" aspect balances out the caramel and the sweet factor so you really do get a perfect bite each time.  The caramel drizzle on top and the caramel center are just bonuses.  If you are not a caramel lover it won't really matter...the flavors are all evenly distributed and the vanilla cupake is very present in every bite.  Be sure to include the cashews in a bite or two as they help to calm down the sweetness.  The actual cake part is light and fluffy but flavorful.  It doesn't crumble and it isn't as airy as angel food cake...it is very soft but not what I would describe as moist.  It is a great fall flavor and would pair PERFECTLY with a caramel macchiato or any kind of coffee drink.  Yummy!!

Next, I had the honor or trying their Peanut Butter Cup cupcake.  Once again, yummy!!  It isn't too strong or too rich.  You can easily house one or two of these bad boys with no problem.  This is a chocolate cupcake with a peanut butter buttercream and tiny reece's pieces on top.  I personally would prefer reece's peanut butter cups sprinkled on top and I would have enjoyed a peanut butter center.  There was no center in this cupcake.  However, it will still royally satisfy any peanut butter lovers.  The cupcake is once again not too dense, but VERY flavorful.  It was more on the moist side of things as opposed to fluffy.  It was perfect since it is not too heavy so it really doesn't make you feel as guilty when you eat it!  You don't feel like you have a brick sitting in your stomach when it is all said and done!  The buttercream was not too sweet but it was like a sweet peanut butter.  It was a little less smooth and more on the crunchy side of icing, as I like to describe it.  This is the kind of cupcake you just want to pair with milk....  Anything else would be too much.  I personally love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate so I feel like a little more could be done with this particular cupcake.  The peanut butter wasn't as present and the reece's pieces don't really do much to help that because they are a very sweet peanut butter candy.  All in all it is a great cupcake but I don't think the peanut flavor balances the sweet factor. 

There will be many more reviews on Polka Dot--so far, it is my favorite cupcake bakery in Charlotte.  They are hoping to get on Cupcake Wars on the food network so they need support! 

You can check out their flavors at http://polkadotbakeshop.com/dailymenu.html

More to come on this amazing bakery! 

Southern Cake Queen--Charlotte, NC

Sweet Complete category....

I attended the Great Grapes and food festival this weekend in Charlotte, NC.  It was my first time attending this event and I was pleasantly surprised!  It was a lot of fun and there were some really cool vendors.  I have to say my favorite moment was when I spotted the Southern Cake Queen truck!  I have heard about these mobile dessert trucks but I have never been fortunate enough to actually stumble across one!  Well, this bright pink truck that read "Cupcake Queen" in big bold letters caught my eye immediately!  I enthusiastically expressed to my friends, "Look!  A cupcake truck!"  They were not as interested as I was (which I am used to at this point) so I walked over by myself.

 I was immediately greeted by two lovely ladies!  I felt connected over our common love for cupcakes right away.  I reverted back to my childhood in 2 seconds flat.  I felt like a little kid that was approaching the ice cream truck for the first time.  It was as if I had 2 shiny quarters in my palm and I wanted to know what popsicle I should try first.   I told them how brilliant this idea was and they informed me that they attend several festivals annually, they do private parties, catering, etc.  They showed me the list of special flavors which ranged from Lemon Drop to Chocolate Merlot (in honor of the festival).  I decided to try their "Willow" flavor which is a banana cupcake, vanilla buttercream, drizzled with caramel and topped with a banana chip.  Secondly, I ordered the Chocolate Merlot.  I thought that was unique and I have not ever had that flavor in a cupcake before.  But, I was at the wine festival so I thought I should stick with the theme!

Let me just say...these cupcakes were DIVINE!!!  I have to be honest, even though I was super excited to see a cupcake in general, I wasn't sure what the quality would be coming out of a truck.   But, WOW!

First, the Chocolate Merlot cupcake was superb.  The cake was moist and had a lot of flavor.  It was fresh and the ingredients were pure.  The icing seemed as if it would be crunchy at first bite but once you bite all the way through you see that it is actually very smooth and creamy.  It was unique!  The icing was like none other.  It wasn't too light, it wasn't too dense, it wasn't too foamy and it wasn't too sweet.  It was just perfect.  The Merlot flavored buttercream was amazing and it paired so well with the rich cocoa flavor of the cake.  The merlot was faint but it was just enough.  Absolutely amazing.

Secondly, I tried the "willow" flavor.  Once again, a burst of flavor at first bite.  The cupcake was just so perfectly balanced in flavor that it made for an amazing bite every single time.  The banana cake was clearly made from scratch and again it was super moist.  The vanilla buttercream was again creamy....it almost seemed like a cream cheese frosting but it wasn't.  Also, the caramel drizzle was the perfect addition to this cupcake.  It brought it all together and it was just enough.  It wasn't just a pointless garnish that was added for appearance....it truly made the whole cupcake.  Heavenly!

The best part about both of these cupcakes is that they were not too big and not too small.  They were light enough but so satisfying that they hit the spot.  Kudos to the Southern Cupcake Queens!  I plan to follow their stops and will certainly consider using them for any future events. 

Check them out...http://www.southerncakequeen.com/products

Buffalo Wild Wings-Charlotte, NC

Grimy Grub....

I ate pretty dirty last night.  This place definitely falls into the "grimy grub" category of this blog.  I decided to give this place a shot for the sake of my husband.  For some reason he loves to watch me eat like a man!  Ha ha!

Anyway--I was a bit confused by this place.  I had high hopes.  I set my mind to it and I planned on enjoying all this place had to offer.  They are known for their wings, right?  I mean, I am assuming so since "wings" is part of the name.  So, we started with some wings.  I haven't had wings since college.  There was this place that everyone went to on Tuesday nights because their wings were twenty-five cents each.  They were SO good.  They were plump, juicy, full of flavor and the ranch dipping sauce was homemade.  MMMmmmmm!!  Finger-licking good!  They were messy though and the table would be full of dirty napkins when we were all done but that was the mark of some good eatin'!!

Back to THIS place....So, we order the wings with their "house" mild buffalo wing sauce.  Let's start with the positive...the sauce was pretty good and even the mild had a nice kick to it.  The chicken on the other hand.....well, let's just put it this way....I am pretty sure I saw our waiter go to Harris Teeter and buy the frozen wings that are "Friday's" brand and bring them back to the restaurant to heat them up in the microwave right before he served us.  I was struggling to find the chicken.  The bone was there, loud and proud, but the meat was hiding.  Look, I am by no means a wing connoisseur but these wings were less then desirable.  I was disappointed.  Moreover, we ordered ours to come with Ranch dipping sauce and it is pretty hard to mess up Ranch but they did!!  Seriously, all they would have to do is go back to Harris Teeter and pick up a bottle of Hidden Valley but that was not the case!  It was watered down and lacked flavor.  That was REALLY disappointing.  If I am going to eat dirty then I at least want it to be well worth it.

For the actual meal I ordered a buffalo chicken wrap.  Again, the chicken was clearly frozen and thawed out just in time to serve but the combination of flavors made this wrap edible.  It had that amazing buffalo sauce sprinkled throughout, pico de gallo, and cheese.  It was flavorful enough to distract me from the fake meat.  On a positive note, my sandwich was served with french fries and they were quite tasty!  They were not too thick and not too thin and they were crispy with great flavor!

All in all, I was disappointed.  I thought the atmosphere was cool and it is a perfect spot to go and watch a football game.  I am sure there are other great items on the menu but they are known for their wings and I really don't know why. 

I know that when you go to a place like this you are getting what you pay for.  So, if it came down to it, I would go back under the right circumstances.